Machine for filling containers with different types of products

Abstract

A weight filling machine suitable for filling containers with two or more products of different types is provided. In particular, a weight filling machine comprising a filling unit and a supply unit for one or more products of different final composition for the filling of containers, where said one or more products comprise the same base composition for all the products and one or more additives, which are different for each different final composition, characterized in that the supply unit comprises a tank for the base composition and a plurality of mixing units, one for each different product, each of the mixing units being connected by means of respective supply lines to the filling unit is provided.

1 . A weight filling machine comprising:
 a filling unit and a supply unit for one or more products of different final composition for the filling of containers, wherein said one or more products comprise the same base composition for all the products and one or more additives, different for each different final composition, wherein the supply unit comprises a tank for the base composition and a plurality of mixing units, one for each different product, each of the mixing units being connected by means of respective supply lines to the filling unit.   
     
     
         2 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the mixing units comprises a receptacle which comprises an outlet opening connected to a respective supply line, an inlet opening, connected to a connection line with the tank of the base composition, and one or more delivery lines for one or more additives, and wherein the receptacle comprises a mixing member. 
     
     
         3 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each mixing unit comprises a device for adjusting the level of the product inside the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 3 , wherein the level adjustment device comprises a float valve connected to a duct for venting the air above the product head inside the receptacle. 
     
     
         5 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 2 , wherein the delivery lines of the one or more additives are intercepted by pumping means. 
     
     
         6 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 5 , wherein said pumping means are peristaltic pumps. 
     
     
         7 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 1 , wherein the filling unit comprises a rotating table that moves the containers and a plurality of filling valves, wherein each filling valve is connected to a distribution line of a product and the distribution lines are connected to a distribution manifold that provides for the distribution of the products of different final composition to the filling valves in a predetermined order. 
     
     
         8 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 7 , wherein the distribution manifold is connected to the supply unit of the products by means of said respective supply lines and wherein the distribution manifold comprises a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         9 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the connection lines is intercepted by valve means and each of the supply lines is intercepted by a displacement pump. 
     
     
         10 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 9 , wherein the valve means are an on-off valve. 
     
     
         11 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 2 , wherein each of the connection lines is intercepted by pumping means and each of the supply lines is intercepted by a displacement pump, and wherein, along the connection line, between such pumping means and the inlet opening of the receptacle, valve means, or a pressure limiter, are placed, which are connected with a recirculation duct that reconnects to the connection line upstream of the pumping means. 
     
     
         12 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 9 , comprising a command and control unit, which controls the following functions:
 (a) during the starting phase of the machine,
 i) opening the valve means along the connection lines, keeping the displacement pump still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as determined by the level adjustment device, 
 ii) activating the mixing member and the pumping means for the additives, 
   wherein the quantity of additives introduced by the pumping means is a function of said filling volume and of the final composition of the product;   (b) during the operational phase of the machine,
 iii) activating the displacement pump, keeping the valve means open, wherein the delivery pressure of the displacement pump is a function of the difference between the pressure read by the sensor in the distribution manifold and a pre-set pressure value, 
 iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping means as a function of the final composition volume taken from the receptacle by the displacement pump. 
   
     
     
         13 . The weight filling machine according to  claim 11 , comprising a command and control unit, which controls the following functions:
 (a) during the starting phase of the machine,
 i) activating the pumping means along the connection line with the tank, keeping the displacement pump still until reaching a predetermined filling volume as determined by the level adjustment device, 
 ii) activating the mixing member and the pumping means for the additives, wherein the quantity of additives introduced by the pumping means is a function of said filling volume and of the final composition of the product; 
   (b) during the operational phase of the machine,
 iii) activating the displacement pump, keeping the pumping means active, wherein the delivery pressure of the displacement pump is a function of the difference between the pressure read by the sensor in the distribution manifold and a pre-set pressure value, 
 iv) adjusting the volume of additives introduced by the pumping means as a function of the final composition volume taken from the receptacle by the displacement pump.